Both produce true acoustic shock waves. The difference is geometry: focused devices converge energy on a small deep focal point, while SoftWave spreads it across a wider zone.
Focused shockwave
A focused device concentrates its wave at a defined focal depth. That makes it precise and capable of reaching deeper structures, and it's why focused shockwave has a long history in medicine — including applications far outside musculoskeletal care. The trade-off is that it treats what sits at the focal point, so targeting has to be accurate, and the sensation at that point can be sharp.
Broad-focused shockwave (SoftWave)
SoftWave holds real shock-wave characteristics but distributes them over a wider field at shallow-to-moderate depth. A whole region — a heel, the length of a tendon, the outside of an elbow — can be covered in one pass, and most patients tolerate it comfortably.
When each makes sense
- Small, deep, precisely located target: a focused device has the advantage.
- Regional soft-tissue or fascia complaint at shallow-to-moderate depth: broad-focused covers it efficiently.
- Comfort tolerance matters: broad distribution is generally easier to sit through than a concentrated focal point.
The honest framing
Clinics tend to promote whichever system they own. What actually predicts your result is the accuracy of your diagnosis, whether shockwave is appropriate for it, and whether you complete the series alongside the exercise you were given. We'd rather have that conversation with you at an exam than sell a device name.